Today we’d like to introduce you to Sky Stiles.
Hi Sky, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I developed a love for being creative and art at a very early age. I remember always drawing, painting, doodling, and making all kinds of things when I was young. It was something I enjoyed more than anything else. I could be in my own world. My interest of tattooing sparked when I was about 15 years old. My childhood friend’s father was a tattoo artist. Many of my friends had tattoos, and I always admired the idea of my art being showcased on someone’s body forever. It was a journey finding myself in the field. I went through a couple of failed apprenticeships and even just tried learning on my own through tattooing friends. During that time a lot of things happened to make me feel like it just wasn’t meant to be. I’m a big believer in the signs that God gives me. After the time of my last apprenticeship, that ended quite badly, I gave up on the idea of becoming an artist. I was 19 years old. I decided to go back to doing what I knew… sales.
I moved away from Texas to Minneapolis, MN to work in the virtual reality field. Yes, it was fun and enjoyable at times, but it was not what I loved. I ended up quitting my job to move back hone to be with my animals and my family. I searched for work for months. It had been the longest time since I was 14 that I hadn’t worked. I hated it. I looked for work anywhere I could and just couldn’t find anything. I began to think of something I could do just on my own and my mind automatically went to “tattooing”. I asked my old mentor if he could possibly help me find a shop I could start at doing small tattoos to work my way up. A couple of months later, I had my first job as a tattoo artist. At this time it had been a couple of years since I even picked up a pencil or even made anything… but as a self-competitive person, I did not let this hold me back. I did everything I could to become the artist I desired to be. In March of 2018, at the age of 21, I made the choice to be someone that wasn’t only good at what they do but someone who excelled in what they loved.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The journey to where I am has not always been easy. The first 2-3 years was very difficult… Moving around several shops, trying to find my place in the industry, trying to get better with the little I had; I had to tell myself a couple of times to keep pushing and not give up. Being in what was told to me, a “male dominated industry,” I always felt like I had to work a little bit harder to make sure that my success grew from being good at what I did instead of being a woman. Some artists can argue that it is easier being a female artist if you have looked. I disagreed. Going into my 3rd year of tattooing, it got busier for me because I made it to one of the better shops in my city. This did not come without complications though. I lost closer friendships, and I was looked down on, in my growth. I did my best to not let this get to me and kept trying to push myself even further to be even better! Now, I am in one of the best shops in my city, surrounded by so many amazing artists that push me to learn more and reach greater heights every day. I am also finally trying to take it even farther and trying to expand myself into surrounding cities by guest spotting in Austin, TX.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a tattoo artist that primarily specializes in black and grey realism, neo-traditional, illustrative, and detail-oriented designs. I am known more for doing black and grey tattoos more than anything else. I am most proud of getting to a point in my career that I can be more creative and do the types of tattoos that I actually enjoy. I think what sets me apart from some other artists is my ability to try things I’ve never done before and work hard trying to make it look like I’m experienced with those types of things at the same time! I find my biggest growth in trying new things and never doubting myself to accomplish even more.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Many things bring me happiness, but I feel like the biggest things are my friends and family, my animals, and my sense of creative being. I have big dreams for taking my artistry to its next levels such as opening a tattoo shop one day, launching my own clothing/fashion brand, and maybe working on something that can inspire me more with my love for interior design and decorating! All together what makes me happy is motivating myself and others to be their best selves, and to grow and try to bring others up with me!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.skystilestattoos.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/skystilestattoos
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/skystiles.tattoos2018
- Other: www.tiktok.com/@skystilestattoos
Image Credits
Photos taken by Jadon Taylor and Donovan Campos
